Ripple of Secrets: Rose Gardner Mystery Novella #6.5 (Rose Gardner series Book 3) by Denise Grover Swank Read Free Book Online Page B

an important call, so I’d appreciate it if you’d hold my calls until I’m done.”
    “Of course, Mr. Deveraux.”
    I shut the door behind me and opened my laptop, then looked up the number for Skeeter Malcolm’s pool hall and called it from my burner phone.
    It was early, probably too early for him to be there, but rumor had it he was an early to work and late to leave kind of guy. The phone rang several times before it was answered. “Malcolm’s Pool Hall.”
    “I’d like to speak to Skeeter Malcolm.”
    “And who’s calling?”
    I paused before answering. “Someone with some helpful information.”
    He hesitated. “Why don’t you tell me what it is and I’ll pass it on.”
    “I know you’re trying to helpful, but I need to speak to Mr. Malcolm myself.”
    He chuckled. “Well, let me see if Mr. Malcolm is willing to talk to someone with helpful information.”
    I cringed. Damn, I should have actually come up with a plan before calling.
    But to my surprise, Malcolm’s voice came on the line. “What’s so damned important you couldn’t tell Jed?”
    “Mr. Malcolm?”
    “Skeeter Malcolm at your service.” I heard the snicker in his voice.
    “It’s Mason Deveraux.”
    He laughed, not missing a beat. “Well, Mr. Mason Deveraux, I can’t say I expected to hear from you. To what do I owe the honor of your call?”
    “I have some information I think you’ll find helpful.”
    “So you’ve said. The question is why you would want to help me .”
    I took a breath. “My duty is to ensure the safety of all Fenton County’s citizens. Yourself included.”
    “You’re insinuating I’m not safe.”
    “Well…” I drawled. “I could point out that you have more than enough enemies to be perpetually unsafe, but I know of one in particular who would like to see your demise. And I suspect you’re not aware of this one.”
    “Why don’t you tell me who it is and we’ll see if I’m surprised.”
    “J.R. Simmons.”
    He paused. “The chief deputy’s father?” He still kept his cool, but I could tell I’d caught him off guard.
    “The one and the same.”
    “How’d I catch the attention of King Simmons?”
    “I was hoping you could tell me.”
    He laughed. “You honestly think I’d tell you if I knew?”
    “I’d give you full immunity.”
    “Why?” When I didn’t answer, he continued, his voice harsher than I expected. “What’s in it for you?”
    “Like I said, I’ve got this penchant for keeping the county safe. And since you’re a citizen of this county…” My voice trailed off.
    “No. There’s more to it.”
    The last thing I wanted to do was discuss Rose with Skeeter Malcolm. Especially after the way he’d looked at her when we ran into him at a restaurant a couple of weeks ago. “That’s all I’m at liberty to tell you.”
    “Then thanks for the warning.” He hung up and I stared at the blank cell phone screen. I’d gotten absolutely nothing from that call and wasn’t likely to get anything else. I’d blown this one too.
    I was really on a damn roll.
    I stared at my computer screen, a tension headache brewing at the back of my neck. The DA wanted me out, particularly now that he knew I was on to his crooked ways, and J.R. knew I was sniffing around. I probably wouldn’t have this job for long, which meant I couldn’t afford to waste time. I might have to get my hands dirty to get things rolling. And while I’d promised to tell Rose what I’d discovered in Little Rock and anything else I was at liberty to tell, the dirty part didn’t qualify.
    I also needed a backup plan. Rose was just about to launch her new business, so she wasn’t leaving Fenton County…and I wasn’t leaving her. So I needed to figure out what I would do if I lost my job. And if it got to that point, I’d know I’d stumbled onto something important enough to make J.R. nervous. While I’d told Rose that murdering people wasn’t in J.R. Simmons’ wheelhouse, I wasn’t so sure in this